How Happy Do These Animals Look? Exploring Factors Influencing Children’s Perceptions of Animal Welfare at the Zoo
Understanding how children and adolescents perceive zoo animal welfare provides insights into public views on captive conditions. This study used a mixed-methods approach to investigate these perceptions. A total of 254 participants (aged 7–18) were surveyed, with 113 completing the full circuit, wh...
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MDPI AG
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/11/1595 |
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| author | María Ignacia Vera-Concha Manuel Rojas Daniel Cartes Maria Camila Ceballos Mari Carmen Villarroel Martín Pérez Vladimir Venegas Cristóbal Briceño Javiera Calderón-Amor Daniela Luna |
| author_facet | María Ignacia Vera-Concha Manuel Rojas Daniel Cartes Maria Camila Ceballos Mari Carmen Villarroel Martín Pérez Vladimir Venegas Cristóbal Briceño Javiera Calderón-Amor Daniela Luna |
| author_sort | María Ignacia Vera-Concha |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Understanding how children and adolescents perceive zoo animal welfare provides insights into public views on captive conditions. This study used a mixed-methods approach to investigate these perceptions. A total of 254 participants (aged 7–18) were surveyed, with 113 completing the full circuit, which included species from distinct phylogenetic groups: monkey, macaw, caiman, frog, fish, and tarantula. Qualitative analysis (<i>n</i> = 254) evaluated children’s recognition of animal needs, whereas quantitative analysis (<i>n</i> = 113) examined how phylogenetic distance, participants’ emotional state, and overall welfare perception influenced animal and environmental assessments—a structured survey evaluating perceived animal health, enclosure conditions, and behavioral expression. Participants’ understanding of animal welfare extended beyond basic needs, recognizing the importance of species-specific behaviors and appropriate environments. Environmental and animal assessment scores were significantly influenced by species, participants’ emotional states, and overall welfare perceptions: fish received the highest scores, positive emotions were associated with higher ratings, and a better overall welfare perception correlated with more favorable assessments. We inferred that phylogenetic distance, emotional state, and general welfare impressions shaped how children and adolescents evaluate animal welfare. The study supported zoo-based educational strategies and reinforced the role of zoos in promoting welfare awareness and conservation-oriented attitudes. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ecc56f1c28454a3fad234c9bbe3705bb |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj-art-ecc56f1c28454a3fad234c9bbe3705bb2025-08-20T03:46:49ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152025-05-011511159510.3390/ani15111595How Happy Do These Animals Look? Exploring Factors Influencing Children’s Perceptions of Animal Welfare at the ZooMaría Ignacia Vera-Concha0Manuel Rojas1Daniel Cartes2Maria Camila Ceballos3Mari Carmen Villarroel4Martín Pérez5Vladimir Venegas6Cristóbal Briceño7Javiera Calderón-Amor8Daniela Luna9Departamento de Ciencia Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias y Pecuarias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 8820808, ChileDepartamento de Ingeniería Industrial, Facultad de Ciencias Físicas y Matemáticas, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 8320198, ChileDepartamento de Ciencias Clínicas, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias y Pecuarias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 8820808, ChileFaculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, CanadaEscuela de Pregrado, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias y Pecuarias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 8820808, ChileEscuela de Pregrado, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias y Pecuarias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 8820808, ChileEscuela de Pregrado, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias y Pecuarias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 8820808, ChileDepartamento de Medicina Preventiva, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias y Pecuarias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 8820808, ChileEscuela de Graduados, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia 5090000, ChileDepartamento de Ciencia Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias y Pecuarias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 8820808, ChileUnderstanding how children and adolescents perceive zoo animal welfare provides insights into public views on captive conditions. This study used a mixed-methods approach to investigate these perceptions. A total of 254 participants (aged 7–18) were surveyed, with 113 completing the full circuit, which included species from distinct phylogenetic groups: monkey, macaw, caiman, frog, fish, and tarantula. Qualitative analysis (<i>n</i> = 254) evaluated children’s recognition of animal needs, whereas quantitative analysis (<i>n</i> = 113) examined how phylogenetic distance, participants’ emotional state, and overall welfare perception influenced animal and environmental assessments—a structured survey evaluating perceived animal health, enclosure conditions, and behavioral expression. Participants’ understanding of animal welfare extended beyond basic needs, recognizing the importance of species-specific behaviors and appropriate environments. Environmental and animal assessment scores were significantly influenced by species, participants’ emotional states, and overall welfare perceptions: fish received the highest scores, positive emotions were associated with higher ratings, and a better overall welfare perception correlated with more favorable assessments. We inferred that phylogenetic distance, emotional state, and general welfare impressions shaped how children and adolescents evaluate animal welfare. The study supported zoo-based educational strategies and reinforced the role of zoos in promoting welfare awareness and conservation-oriented attitudes.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/11/1595animal welfareanimal needschildren and adolescents’ perceptionzoo animalsqualitative assessment |
| spellingShingle | María Ignacia Vera-Concha Manuel Rojas Daniel Cartes Maria Camila Ceballos Mari Carmen Villarroel Martín Pérez Vladimir Venegas Cristóbal Briceño Javiera Calderón-Amor Daniela Luna How Happy Do These Animals Look? Exploring Factors Influencing Children’s Perceptions of Animal Welfare at the Zoo Animals animal welfare animal needs children and adolescents’ perception zoo animals qualitative assessment |
| title | How Happy Do These Animals Look? Exploring Factors Influencing Children’s Perceptions of Animal Welfare at the Zoo |
| title_full | How Happy Do These Animals Look? Exploring Factors Influencing Children’s Perceptions of Animal Welfare at the Zoo |
| title_fullStr | How Happy Do These Animals Look? Exploring Factors Influencing Children’s Perceptions of Animal Welfare at the Zoo |
| title_full_unstemmed | How Happy Do These Animals Look? Exploring Factors Influencing Children’s Perceptions of Animal Welfare at the Zoo |
| title_short | How Happy Do These Animals Look? Exploring Factors Influencing Children’s Perceptions of Animal Welfare at the Zoo |
| title_sort | how happy do these animals look exploring factors influencing children s perceptions of animal welfare at the zoo |
| topic | animal welfare animal needs children and adolescents’ perception zoo animals qualitative assessment |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/11/1595 |
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